The role of innovation narratives in accomplishing organizational ambidexterity

Mairi Maclean, Charles Harvey, Benjamin D. Golant, John A.A. Sillince

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

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Abstract

Persistent tensions arising from the exploration-exploitation paradox continuously threaten the accomplishment of organizational ambidexterity. Structural, contextual and sequential solutions designed to alleviate these tensions dominate the ambidexterity literature. None of these adequately explains how top executives implement tension-alleviating managerial initiatives or how they respond in real time to tension-induced organizational perturbations. In this paper, through analysis of top management team (TMT) speeches at Procter & Gamble over a 15-year period, we show how the construction and communication of four innovation narratives – contextualizing, mutualizing, dramatizing and focalizing – reduced tensions and enhanced organizational ambidexterity. We demonstrate the importance of TMT reflexivity in devising and communicating performative narratives, illustrate the polyphonic model of narrative strategizing, and present a cyclical model suggesting that the accomplishment of organizational ambidexterity is an ongoing dynamic process.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages29
JournalStrategic Organization
Early online date21 Jan 2020
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 21 Jan 2020

Keywords

  • Exploration-exploitation paradox, innovation narratives, top management team (TMT), organizational ambidexterity, polyphonic narration

Cite this

The role of innovation narratives in accomplishing organizational ambidexterity. / Maclean, Mairi; Harvey, Charles; Golant, Benjamin D.; Sillince, John A.A.

In: Strategic Organization, 21.01.2020.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Maclean, M, Harvey, C, Golant, BD & Sillince, JAA 2020, 'The role of innovation narratives in accomplishing organizational ambidexterity', Strategic Organization. https://doi.org/10.1177/1476127019897234
Maclean M, Harvey C, Golant BD, Sillince JAA. The role of innovation narratives in accomplishing organizational ambidexterity. Strategic Organization. 2020 Jan 21. https://doi.org/10.1177/1476127019897234
Maclean, Mairi ; Harvey, Charles ; Golant, Benjamin D. ; Sillince, John A.A. / The role of innovation narratives in accomplishing organizational ambidexterity. In: Strategic Organization. 2020.
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